Amon Amarth, Sigur Ros, Lightning Dust: CD Reviews June 25, 1013

AMON AMARTH: Deceiver of the Gods (Metal Blade) Honestly, why isn’t this the band playing the theme for the TV show Vikings? Because Johan Hegg’s furious growl on the title track of this album constructed around Loke the Trickster is everything a good Norse myth in the making needs. Not that the band is going to ever get any awards for growth or development. It arrived ready made and has diverged nary a note from its debut. But it does keep on getting cleaner and tighter in its delivery as well as easier to understand as well as frequently funny. The opening for Blood Eagle of someone being flayed is pretty rich. All in all, another solid effort from the metal equivalent of Thor’s mighty hammer. Grade: C+

BED OF STARS: I Fell In Love In The City (Ocean Records) Inspired by, of all things, the 2010 Olympic spirit in Vancouver, 23 year-old Abbotford musician Evan Konrad (a.k.a Bed of Stars) penned a seven song cycle about it. Kind of. What bursts off of the grooves of this album is the kind of upbeat, feel good-but-melancholy energy that you used to look to Scottish bands such as Travis or Belle & Sebastien for. The opening tune Nothing Left to Lose is making the rounds on radio and deserves to be a hit with its utterly infectious hooks. And while the faster tunes grab more than the ballads, Konrad has a fine set of pipes and soars on the maudlin The Spell. A few more upbeat numbers would’ve made for a more engaging overall experience, but it’s solid. Produced by Neverending White LIghts Daniel Victor – who also released the album on his label – the seven tunes do a fine job of introducing a new talent to the Canadian indie scene. Grade: B- RELEASE PARTY: Media Club, Friday

GHOSTPOET: Meltdown EP (PIAS) UK hip hop artist Obaro Ejimiwe (a.k.a. Ghostpoet) blew minds with his 2010 debut Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam. On the title track, his laconic delivery and the moody beats bring the sounds of a the young Bristol scene that spawned Tricky and Massive Attack. But he’s got a lyricism and melodic quality that differs from both of those acts and puts him into minimalist techno zones (Cold Win) and even glitch soul (MSI musmiD). Finally, he collaborates with enduring electro pioneer Squarepusher for a remix of Meltdown that comepletely re-confirgues the song as almost something you could imagine the National coming up with in a particularly digital mood. This ups anticipation for the next album a lot. Grade: B+

LIGHTNING DUST: Fantasy (JagJaguwar) Amber Webber and Josh Wells appear to have found the right fit for their distinct brand of minimalist pop on the band’s third LP. Largely crafted on a vintage MPC 2000, the duo have come up with a quiet electro that should grab many more listeners than the more lo-fi mutant folk/blues of previous offers. Tracks such as Mirror have the kind of haunted dance grooves that would have sounded right in place on an early Sinead O’Connor remixe. Of course, the acoustic guitar and high lonesome sounds do turn up too, with the lovely Moon being a highlight.But what really makes this happen is tunes such as the bumping Loaded Gun and wholly atmospheric Agatha. Grade: B

SIGUR ROS: Kveikur (XL) The surprise that is Brennisteinn sets the tone for the latest from this Icelandic sonic juggernaut. With clear hooks, if not actual lyrics, the song’s guitars grind and shimmer and invoke the kind of arena grandeur of Kid A era Radiohead or even some stoner metal. It’s a decided movement away from the celebrated softness of Valtari and perhaps lifts some of the magic veil off of the band’s distinct sound. This is clear pop music and more like singer Jonsi’s solo album in feel. You can sway and sing along to Isjaki. Stormur is more in line with what fans of earlier work would expect as the track builds on a clear ringing vocal swoop before the drums and strings come in. Overall, this is more of a guitar-bass-drums thing and surprisingly awake from such dream popsters. Grade: B

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